Business

Samsung Fails to Block Sale of iPhone in Japan

Apple and Samsung's epic global patent battle took another turn over the weekend as a Tokyo court rejected Samsung's attempt to block sales of the iPhone in Japan.

The Tokyo District Court rejected two Samsung claims over the last month, according to The Japan Daily Press. On Sept. 14, the court dismissed Samsung's claim that the iPhone's technology used for downloading apps infringed on Samsung patents. On Oct. 11, the court again rejected Samsung's claim that the iPhone's "airplane mode" infringed on a Samsung technology.

The rulings mean that the iPhone will continue to be sold in Japan. The device was Japan's top-selling smartphone in March with 26.6% market share, according to IDC Japan.

Apple and Samsung have been trading lawsuits over patents across the world throughout the past year or so. For U.S. consumers, the most significant outcome of the fight was an Aug. 24 ruling by a San Jose, Calif., court awarding $1 billion in damages to Apple. Samsung and Apple have traded patent lawsuits in Australia and Germany, among other places.

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